Good morning on this 25th day of August. Happy Birthday Koichi!! Waine and I are in Hawkinsville enjoying a very mild and temperate late summer day in Georgia. We have had record rain fall in Georgia and it is GREAT to see the sun. Waine and I enjoyed a GREAT walk this morning just talking and sharing. Today is also the anniversary of Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech. African Americans have accomplished a lot and we still have lots of work to do.
I am continuing my journey in 1 John 5, verse 1 - 21, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
This message is 2,000 years old but Still So Relevant! John was admonishing the believers of his day to claim the promise and power of God. Christian teachers are still admonishing us to be bold in our faith and claim the promises of God through obedience to the commandments of God. Chief among them is to love God through acceptance of His Son as the pathway to Him and then to love one another as God has loved us. With this commitment to His commandments we can live without fear and when we live without fear we begin to realize the abundance that has been paid for us by the Blood shed on the Cross. We can also boldly proclaim the TRUTH! So why do so many Christians NOT live the abundant life that is ours. why are so many Christians silence about this Faith.
The evil one is the chief liar--his whole life is dedicated to keeping us in fear but this fear is only relevant when we let it. Jesus said we can rebuke Satan with the power of the Holy Spirit and we should be ashamed when we do not live boldly. Shake off the shackles of fear and guilt and grasp the abundance that is yours today. Don't deny the sacrifice of Christ by not living boldly through Christ today.
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
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